Side hole coring device



-' July 25, 1944- w. B. NOBLE 2,354,399

SIDE HOLE CORING DEVICE tf1/,V67I B. Na/8. 54AM/.Z INVENTQR.

July 25, 1944.

w. B. NOBLE SIDE HOLE CORING DEV Filed May 4,V- 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 W/c] B. Nob/.

INVENTOR.

Patented July 25, 1944 SIDE HOLE CORING DEVICE Wiley B. Noble, Houston, Tex., assignor to Reed Roller Bit Company, Houston, Tex., a corporation of Texas Application May 4, 1942, Serial No. 441,634

(Cl. Z55-1.4)

14 Claims.

This invention has to do with a side hole coring device and has for its general object the provision of such a device which is capable of being run into a bore hole and then moved laterally to secure a sample of the formations surrounding the bore hole.

Various types of side hole coring devices have in the past been devised, but these have for the most part been made in the form of units adapted to be connected to the lower end of a drill stem and run into a well with the drill stem, and in many instances to be operated by some movement either rotary or longitudinal of the drill stem.

It is an object of this invention therefore to provide a device which need not be connected to the lower end of a drill stem when the same is run into a hole but which may be run in through a drill stem and extended through the lower end of a conventional core bit and then operated to take a core from the side of a hole instead of from the central portion of the bottom of the hole as is customary with an ordinary core bit.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device which may be operated without movement of the drill stem.

Another object of this invention is to provide such a device which will have a positive action in moving into the formation for the purpose of taking a core and which may then be withdrawn from the formation and removed from the well without necessity for removing the drill stem.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device which will save a vast amount of time otherwise required ior taking a side hole core and which will at the same time provide a positive acting dependable core taking apparatus for taking cores from the side walls of a bore hole.

Other objects and advantages of this invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein are set forth by way of example and illustration certain embodiments of this invention Fig. 1 is a view partly in side elevationand partly in longitudinal cross section illustrating a device constructed in accordance with this invention which has just been seated within a core drill of conventional construction.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical cross section of the upper portion of the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a similar view through the lower portion of the device illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a transverse cross section taken along the line 4 4 of Fig. 3.

Fig5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the parts in the position which they occupy when the core barrel has been moved downwardly and laterally in order to take a core from the formation.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but showing the device in core taking position.

Fig. '1 is a view similar to Fig. 3 but illustrating a slight modification.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral I designates the lower end of a special sub having a bore through its center the lower portion 2 of which is of relatively smaller' diameter than the upper portion 3 thereof so that a shoulder 4 is provided therebetween. The lower end of this sub I is internally threaded for the purpose of receiving the latching sleeve 5 which is customarily employed for the purpose of receiving the latch of the ordinary so-called wire line core barrel. Exteriorly the sub I is threaded at its lower-end for the purpose of receiving the upper end of a drill collar 6. The lower end of the drill collar 6 is also exteriorly threaded for the purpose of receiving the threaded shank of the core drill I. The core drill I is of conventional construction. in this instance being shown with so-called shtail blades 8 and having an internal shoulder at 9 adapted to provide a seat for the seating ring I0 that ordinarily receives a core barrel. This seating ring which is also sometimes referred to as a slush ring is provided with splines II on its outer surface so that slush may flow downwardly around the outside of the ring and between the ring and the body of the bit, and the bit itself is provided with downwardly and outwardly extending slush passages below the ring I0, these slush passages being designated I2 and serving to direct the slush against the blades 8 so as to keep the blades at all times clean and free from cuttings and debris in the bottom of the Well.

The apparatus described up to this point is conventional apparatus ordinarily used for the purpose of taking a core during straight-ahead core drilling operations. It is of the so-called wire line type in which the drill stem and core drill remain in the well at all times being removed only for the purpose of repair or replacement. and when a core is desired to be taken a core barrel is lowered through the drill stem into the core bit and latched In place therein. Subsequent drilling causes the production of a core which moves upwardly into the core barrel,

and after the core has been taken the core barrel is retrieved by means of a wire line and overshot lowered through the drill stem. The core barrel may then be replaced by a so-called center bit which serves to cut the center of the bottom of the hole and prevent the formation of a core when none is desired, and drilling then proceeds without the taking of any core.

In accordance with this invention a device is provided which takes the place of the usual core barrel for straight-ahead coring operation but which is capable of taking a core from the side wall of a hole.

As shown in the drawings, this device is carried in a composite body member which may be termed a. carrier. This body member consists of a carrier cylinder I3 having a guide cylinder mounted on its lower end. This guide cylinder is designated I4 and is threaded at its upper end to receive the carrier cylinder I3. The upper end of the carrier cylinder is also threaded to receive a packing cylinder I5 having packing rings I6 surrounding it, these packing rings being spaced apart by means of spacer rings |1 and all these rings being held in place by means of a nut |8 screwed on t the upper end of the cylinder |5. That portion of the cylinder I which is surrounded by the rings |6 and I1 and on to which the nut I8 is threaded is of reduced external diameter so as to accommodate the said rings and nut.

The cylinder I3 a short distance above its lower end is provided with lateral openings for a purpose presently to be described, and even closer to its lower end is provided with vent openings 2| through which a fluid can escape from within the cylinder.

The guide cylinder at the lower end of the carrier cylinder I3 has a, lateral opening shortly below its upper end as shown at 22, and in this opening is pivotally mounted a holddown latch 23 having a shank portion which extends below its pivot and a latchlng portion extending above its pivot. Surrounding the pivot of this latch is a spring 24 so mounted that it tends at all times to move the upper latching end of this latch in a radially outward direction so as to cause it to engage beneath the ring I0 and hold the carrier in place within the core bit.

The guide cylinder extends much further down on one side than on the other as illustrated at 25 and adjacent its lower end is provided with a pivot 26 whereby there is connected to this lower end a deflector link 21. The upper end of this deflector link 21 is pivoted at 28 to a core barrel 29 in which the core is adapted to be received. This core barrel 29 is preferably of cylindrical form and has suitable core catching apparatus 30 at its lower end as it hangs within the guide cylinder I4. The upper end of this core Ibarrel is internally threaded to receive the core barrel head 3|, and that head is in turn pivoted at 32 to the lower end of the driving sleeve 33, this driving sleeve being slidably mounted within the guide cylinder I4.

The core barrel head 3| is provided with passages 34 and 35 which connect the interior of the core barrel with the exterior thereof at its upper end so that the core barrel may be vented as a core is received into its lower end.

Pivotally secured to the core barrel and to the driving sleeve on the same pivot 32 is a retracting hook 36, the upper end of which is provided with a hook-shaped part 31 for a purpose presently to be described and the lower portion of which is provided with an abutment 38 adapted to abut against a portion of the core barrel head 3| and limit its rotation to the right about its pivot as the same is seen in Fig. 3. A spring 39 is provided for constantly urging this latchlng member to rotate clockwise or to the right as seen in Fig. 3 so that its shank portion 38 is at all times held rmly against the core barrel head 3| when the core barrel is in vertical position as shown.

Slidably mounted within the driving sleeve 33 and the carrier cylinder I3 above the latchlng member 36 is a driving and retracting mechanism consisting of a retractor bar 40, a driving piston 4| secured to the upper end thereof, and a pull bar 42 projecting upwardly from the driving piston and having a spear head 43 on its upper end.

The driving sleeve 33 has an opening laterally therefrom as shown at 44, this opening being somewhat elongated and positioned so as to register at all times during the upward and downward movement of this sleeve within the guide cylinder with the opening 22 through the guide cylinder. The opening 44 thus serves to permit communication between the interior of the driving sleeve and the exterior of the guide cylinder so that the shank 23 of the latching member will be able to extend through the driving sleeve and contact with the cam-shaped part 45-on the retracting head 46 of the retractor lbar 40 which is located within the driving sleeve. This head 46 has a hook-shaped part 41 on its lower end which is adapted when the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3 to just move downwardly past the hook-shaped upper end 31 without engaging said hook. This head is slidably mounted within the driving sleeve 33 but its sliding movement with respect to this sleeve 33 is limited by means of the pin 48 and the slot 49, this pin 48 extending through and being secured in the opposite sides of the driving sleeve 33 and engaging within the slot 49 through the head 46. 'I'he slot 49 is of such a length that when the parts are in a position shown in Fig. 3 the latch operating cam surface 45 will be up in the position shown in which the latchlng member 24 is held in released position. When, however, the head 46 is moved downwardly until the pin 48 comes in contact with the upper end of the slot 49, this cam surface will have moved so that the latch may engage beneath the ring I0. At the same time, the hook-shaped part 41 will have moved downwardly past the hook-shaped part 31 to such an extent that if and when the hook-shaped part 31 rotates to the right under the influence of the spring 39, the two hook-shaped parts will engage each other.

The piston 4I as previously mentioned is threadedly connected to the upper end of the retractor bar 4|). This piston 4I has a packing 50 on its upper end whereby the passage of fluid pressure downwardly past this piston is prevented, and when fluid pressure is applied to this piston it will be moved downwardly to move the retractor bar downwardly. At approximately the same time that the upper end of the slot 49 comes in contact with the pin 48, the lower end of the piston 4| will likewise come in contact with the upper end of the driving sleeve 33. Thereafter, further downward movement of the piston 4| under influence of hydraulic pressure will force the driving sleeve downwardly and this will move the upper end of the core barrel 29 downwardly. As this upper end of the core barupwardly to their original positions.

vshank portion permitting the hook 36 to rotate clockwise as seen in Fig. 6 'and engage the hookshaped part 41. The/driving sleeve is initially held in its uppermost' positionas illustrated in Y Fig. 3 by means of a shear pin 5I. `It is also noted that as the piston 4I moves downwardly, the space below this piston will be vented through the opening 2| and'that when it 'reaches its lowermost position the openings will be uncovered above the piston and fluid may escape from the cylinder through these openings'.

Threadedly secured tothe piston 4I and extending upwardly therefromis the pull bar 42. This pull bar has an enlargement 52 thereon adjacent the upper endof the piston and this enlargement serves to hold in place a washer 53 which in turn retains the cup-'shaped'packing 50 on the piston.y

The upper end ofthe pull bar 42 is threaded to Y Y y 2,354,899Y

rel is moved downwardly its lower end will be receive the head on'which is carriedthe speary head 43. This body of the Spearhead is provided below the Spearhead with anV enlargement 54 which is initially a substantial distance above the upper end of the packing head I5 and also above the shoulder 4. Thus; while the parts are in the position illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 fluid may be pumpeddownwardly freely past this enlargement 54, but when the parts have been moved downwardly to their lowermost position this enlargement 54 will have passed the shoulder 4 and flow of fluid will have been substantially reduced. Thus the operator may be able to tell by the slowingdown of the fluid pumps at the surface of the ground that the device has been operated fully to its lowermost position. I

After the device has been operated to its lowermost position as just referred to it is retracted by means of .f an overshot *whichV is lowered through the drill stem to engage the Spearhead V43 and exert an upward pull thereon. 'Ihis up-V ward pull is transmitted through the pull bar,

Withv reference to the form shown in Fig. '1, this is very similar to that just described with a few minor exceptions.' In this device the retractor bar' 40 is omitted and thepiston 4Ia is secured directly to the upper end of the vdriving sleeve 33a. The cam surface V45a which controls the operation of the latch 23 is in this instance mounted upon a cam member 45h which is carried onthe pivot 32. This member is connected with pivot 32 merely for the purpose of Vpreventing it from moving longitudinally' within the driving sleeve 33a and it is for all'purposes'during theV operation ofthe device an'integral part of the driving sleeve 33a.

In this construction when a hydraulic pressure is exerted upon the upper Aend of thev piston 4Ia this piston and the driving sleeve willbe moved downwardly. As Vsoon as this'downward movement starts the cam surface 45a will move to such `aposition as to permit; the latch 23,to move to latching position engaging the ring I0. Further downward movement-will move the core barrel downwardly and its lower end will be swung outwardly in the mannerv above described in connection withthe previous form of the invention.

When the parts are retracted by means of a. pull on the Spearhead 43 thisv operationis reversed an Vwhen the parts reach the positionshown in Fig.` 7 the cani surface 45a will have engaged the latch 23 and moved it again toits retracted position so that the entire device may be withdrawn from the well. i

From the foregoing it is thought that the operation of this device will be perfectly clear. It is to benoted, however, that during the ordinary drilling operations withoutzany core barrel-in placca center bit will be emplo ed for the pury pose of drilling at th'e center of tl ebottom of the the driving piston 4Iand the retractor bar 40, and thence through the two hook-shaped parts 31 and 41 to the core barrel 23. This movesthe upper end of the core barrel upwardly and swings the lower end inwardly through the in- I. .fluence of the link 21. As soon, however, as the core barrel reaches the position very near to the vertical position, its upper end will come in contact with the shank 38v of theA retracted hook member 36 and disengage the'hook-shaped part 31 from the part 41. Thereupon, the retractor bar 40 may be moved upwardly within the driving sleeve 33 until the lower end of the slot 48 comes vin contact with the pin 4l. Thereafter, the driving sleeve and core. barrel will be moved Further, when this retractor bar and driving sleeve are moved totheir uppermost positions, the'cam surface 45 will'have acted upon the shank' of the latching member 23A to retract this latching member so that it disengages the ring IB. Thereupon, furtherpull upon the Spearhead 43 will serve to pull the entire device includingl thev carrying cylthrough the drill stem and out of the well.

, cylinder I4 engages with the ring I0.

hole. Whenever it becomes desirable `to take a side hole'core with a device such as constructed in accordance with this invention, the entire assembly within the vdrill stem and core,drill as hereinbefore described will be introduced at the ,upperv end of the drill stem `and 'caused to'move downwardly through the drill stem until the shoulder provided forfthe purpose on the guide Thereupon vfluid willbepumped downwardly through the drill stem from the surface of the ground. This fluid willnot be permitted to pass outwardly around the outside of the carrier cylinder I3 because of the packing Ii'around the upper end thereof. It will therefore be forced downwardly Ythrough this carrier' cylinder and caused to act Yupon the upper end of lthe piston 4I. This will actfin themanner aboveY described to cause the shearingI of the, pinSIgand the downward movement Vof i the respective parts so that thelower end of the /corebarrelis swung downwardly` and outwardly to engage the side wall of the hole and take a core therefrom. This mechanism cannot be forced too Vfar because when it reaches its lowermost 'point of travel the holes A20 will as abovefdescribed be uncovered the drill stem to engage the Spearhead 43 and the parts thereupon retracted until the latch 23 is released after which the entire device may be removedy from the well through the drill stem.

From the foregoing it will be seen that a device has been provided which is capable of accomplishing all of the objects and securing all the advantages sought by this invention.

Having described. my invention, I-claim:

1. In a side hole coring device, a carrier comprising a cylinder and a guide extending from the lower end of the cylinder, a core barrel in said guide, a driver in said guide adapted to act upon the upper end of said core barrel to move it downwardly, and a link pivotally connecting the lower portion of'said guide with a part of said core barrel below its upper end, whereby upon downward movement of said driver said core barrel will be moved downwardly and the lower end thereof will be swung outwardly to take a side hole core.

2. In a side hole coring device, a support. a core barrel, a link connecting the intermediate part of said core barrel with a lower point on said support, and means for moving the upper end of said core barrel downwardly within said support to cause the lower end thereof to swing laterally away from said support to take a side hole core.

3. In a side hole coring device for use with a drill stem, a support movable downwardly through said drill stem and adapted to be carried rigidly thereby at the lower end of the drill stem, a core barrel downwardly movable with respect to said support, means for forcing the core barrel downwardly, andv means on said supportrfor deflecting said core barrel laterally when it is forced downwardly.

4. In a side hole coring device for use with a drill stem, a support carried rigidly by said drill stem, a core barrel downwardly movable with respect to said support, means for forcing the core barrrel downwardly, means on said support for deflecting said core barrel laterally when' it is forced downwardly; and means for retractlng said core barrel upwardly with respect to said support and for retracting said support and core barrel upwardly through said drill stem.

5. In a side hole coring device for' use with a drill stem, a support movable downwardly through said drill stem and adapted to be secured to said drill stem adjacent the lower end thereof, means for latching said support in place with respect to said drill stem adjacent the lower end of said drill stem, a core barrel downwardly movable with respect to said support, means for forcing the core barrel downwardly, means on said support for defiecting said core barrel laterally when it is forced downwardly, and means for retracting said core barrel with respect to said support, unlatching the support from the drill stem, and retracting said support and core barrel upwardly through the drill stem.

6. In a side hole coring device for use with a drill stern, a support carried rigidly by said drill stem, a core barrel downwardly movable with respect to said support, a shear pin'interconnecting said support and said core barrel to initially hold said core barrel in an upperposition with respect to said support, means for forcing the core barrel downwardly, and means on said support for deiiecting said core barrel laterally when it is forced downwardly.

7. In a side hole coring device, a support, a core barrcl,`a link connecting an intermediate part of said core barrel with a lower point on said support, means for initially holding said core barrel in an upper position with respect to said support, and means for overcoming said last mentioned means and for moving the upper end of said core barrel downwardly within said support to cause the lower end thereof to swing laterally away from said support to take a side hole core.

8. In a side hole coring device, a support, a core barrel, a link connecting an intermediate part of said core barrel with a lower point on said support, a shear pin for initially holding said core barrel in an upper position with respect to said support, and means for overcoming said shear pin and for moving the upper end of said core barrel downwardly within said support to cause the lower end thereof to swing laterally away from said support to take a side hole core.

9. In a side hole coring device for use with a drill stem, a support carried rigidly by said drill stem| and movable downwardly through said drill stem, a core barrel downwardly movable with respect to said support, means for forcing the core barrel downwardly, means on said support for defiecting said core barrel laterally when it is forced downwardly, latching means for latching said core barrel in place adjacent the lower end of said drill stem for the purpose of taking a core, a cam for operating said latch to engaging position to latch said support in place prior to the taking of a core and for moving said latch to disengaging position to unlatch said support when said core barrel is retracted, means for retracting said core barrel to the support and means for retracting said supportV and core barrel upwardly through said drill stem.

10. In a side hole coring device for use with a drill stem, a support movable downwardly through said drill stem, a core barrel downwardly movable with respect to said support, means for forcing the core barrel downwardly, means on said support for deflecting said core barrel laterally when it is forced downwardly latching means for latching said storage rigidly with respect to said drill stem adjacent the lower end of said drill stem, a cam initially movable without movement of said core barrel to permit engagement of said latch with said drill stem to latch s'aid support in place in said drill stem, and then movable with said means for forcing said barrel downwardly.

11. In a side hole coring device for use with a drill stem, a support movable downwardly through said drill stem and adapted to be rigidly secured to said drill stem adjacent the lower end thereof, a core barrel downwardly movable with respect to said support, means for forcing the core barrel downwardly, means on said support for deilecting said core barrel laterally when it is forced downwardly, means for rigidly latching said support with respect to said drill stem adjacent the lower said drill stem, a cam for' operating said latch and initially movable separately from said and means for latching said cam in its lowermost position with respect to said the lbarrel downwardly until has been fully retracted.

12. In a side hole coring device for use with a drill stem, a support movable downwardly through said drill stern and adapted to be carried rigidly by the lower end of said drill stem, a core barrel downwardly movable with respect to said support, means for forcing the core barrel downwardly, means on said support for deflecting said core barrel laterally when it is forced downwardly,

latching means for latching said supportv rigidly with respect to said drill stem adjacent the lower end of said drill stem. and a cam secured to and movable at all times with said means for forcing thecore barrel downwardly to operate said latch, the initial downward movement ot said cam servingto permit engagement of said latch with said drill stem to secure said support within said drill stem, and iinal upward movement of said cam serving to release said latch from said drill stem and permit upward movement of isaid support within said drill stem.

13. In a side hole curing device, a carrier comprising a cylinder and a guide extending from the lower end of the cylinder,l a core barrel in said guide, a driver in said guide adapted to act Vupon the upper end of said core barrel to move it downwardly, a piston in said cylinder, said pist0n adapted to be forced by hydraulic pressure against` said driver to move said driver downwardly, and a link pivotally connecting the lower portion of said guide with a part of said core barrel below its upper end, whereby upon downward movement of said driver said core barrel will be moved vdownwardly and the llower end thereof will be swung outwardly to take a side hole core.

14. In a side hole curing device, a support, a

-core barrel, a link connecting an intermediate part of said core barrel with a lower point on said support, and hydraulic means for moving the upper end of said core barrel downwardly within said support to cause the loweiend thereof to swing laterally away from said support to take a side hole core.

WILEY B. NOBLE. 

